Monolithic Optical Element With Aligned Aperture for Low-Noise Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical lenses are bulky and require complex alignment with apertures, leading to potential misalignment and degraded performance in optical sensor devices.
Innovation Solution
A monolithic optical element comprising a glass substrate with a dark mirror coating and a lens, featuring an aligned aperture, which integrates the lens and aperture into a single component, reducing the need for separate alignment and minimizing unwanted light reflection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional optical lenses are used, then light can be directed to the sensor, but the device becomes bulky and alignment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the lens and aperture into a single monolithic optical element. The aperture is formed directly in the lens substrate through methods such as laser drilling or etching, eliminating the need for separate aperture components and their alignment with the lens. This integration directly reduces device volume and eliminates alignment complexity between separate optical components.
2Reliability
If separate aperture and lens components are used, then light can be controlled, but misalignment may occur leading to degraded performance
Solution Approach 1:
By forming the aperture directly in the lens substrate as a monolithic structure, the patent eliminates relative movement and alignment errors between separate aperture and lens components. The aperture and lens become inseparable parts of a single optical element, ensuring consistent optical performance and eliminating misalignment issues that plague multi-component systems.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If dark mirror coating is applied to the substrate, then unwanted light reflection is reduced, but manufacturing steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dark mirror coating is applied to the rear surface of the lens substrate, combining multiple functions into a single component. This coating reduces unwanted light reflection and stray light while the lens focuses light onto the sensor. By integrating the anti-reflective function into the lens substrate itself rather than requiring separate elements, the patent minimizes the increase in manufacturing complexity while achieving the desired reduction in harmful light reflections.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The monolithic optical element improves sensor performance by reducing noise and enabling accurate light analysis while reducing the device's form factor, suitable for applications like eye tracking sensors in virtual reality headsets.
Implementation Method 1
a lens that directs the light to the array of sensor elements
Implementation Method 2
a dark mirror coating disposed on a first surface of the glass substrate
Data Source
AI summary
In some implementations, an optical element comprises a glass substrate, a dark mirror coating disposed on a first surface of the glass substrate, and a lens disposed on a second surface of the glass substrate. An aperture is formed in the dark mirror coating, and the aperture is aligned with the lens. The optical element is a monolithic optical element.